October 2017 Summaries

Ionic's 2017-18 roadmap outlines several key developments aimed at enhancing the framework's compatibility, functionality, and accessibility for developers. The team released updates to ensure compatibility with iOS 11 and the iPhone X, transitioning to WKWebView for improved performance in new apps. They introduced Ionic Pro, a platform designed to streamline Ionic development with features like automated error tracking and upcoming Progressive Web App (PWA) hosting. The Ionic View app was split into two, focusing on beta testing and local development through the new Ionic DevApp. Looking ahead, the release of Ionic 4 will introduce framework-agnostic components built with Stencil, supporting various frameworks beyond Angular, and offering performance boosts for PWAs. Ionic is also investing in the Cordova plugin ecosystem and emphasizes its commitment to web technology, advocating for a strategy that leverages web standards to deliver versatile app experiences across platforms.

Ionic has announced that new Ionic apps will now use WKWebView by default, providing performance improvements such as enhanced speed, reduced memory usage, and better scroll events on iOS. This transition to WKWebView, a more modern webview compared to the older UIWebView, requires developers to install the Ionic repository plugin and address several considerations, such as data migration from localstorage/IndexDB to native storage solutions, correct implementation of CORS due to WKWebView's enforcement of these rules, and adjustments for loading native files. Additionally, authentication services need to whitelist the localhost URL generated by WKWebView. Developers are encouraged to adopt WKWebView for its benefits, and the Ionic team expresses gratitude for community feedback during the plugin's early development.

The current definition of a great mobile user experience is too narrowly focused on performance metrics like load times and smooth scrolling, neglecting the broader user journey before and after app interaction. A truly seamless experience should allow users to transition effortlessly between different interaction modes, such as moving from a mobile browser to an app without the need for downloading or installing, while maintaining consistent functionality across platforms. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) offer a solution by providing a native app experience with offline access and high performance without requiring installation, allowing developers to target multiple platforms with a single codebase. This approach challenges the traditional emphasis on performance, advocating for a more comprehensive view of user experience that encompasses all aspects of user interaction across devices.